Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)
Directed by David Bowers
Wimpy Greg Heffley, now in seventh grade, thinks he has it all together. He has mastered middle school and gotten rid of the Cheese Touch. However, Greg's older brother, Rodrick, is itching to cut him down to size. He gets the perfect opportunity when their mother tries to force the boys to bond. Rodrick may be Greg's chief tormentor, but he feels his constant pranks are just what his little brother needs to prepare him for life's hard knocks.
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What critics say influenced Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Director
Clint Eastwood
Critics compare Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules to 2 of Eastwood’s films.
This brightly lit film was shot by Jack N Green, a cinematographer noted for his mastery of chiaroscuro in such Clint Eastwood pictures as Unforgiven and Bird.
This brightly lit film was shot by Jack N Green, a cinematographer noted for his mastery of chiaroscuro in such Clint Eastwood pictures as Unforgiven and Bird.
Last year's original was a surprise hit, turning Jeff Kinney's popular series of kids' books into a bouncy screen version that seemed born in wry memories filtered through fond reminiscences like those in "A Christmas Story" or "The Wonder Years."
Indeed, Holly, the willowy blonde (Peyton List) for whom young Greg falls is a full foot taller than her admirer, and looks of an age to be hanging out with Rodrick -- or cruisin' in "American Graffiti"'s iconic white T-bird.
Rodrick goes all Risky Business on them, locking his brother in the basement and throwing a raucous party fueled entirely by soft drinks.
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As Greg's mom Susan, Rachael Harris (2009's " The Hangover ") gets more to do this time since the focus is on the family rather than at-school antics, though Steve Zahn (2009's " A Perfect Getaway ") still hasn't gotten his moment to shine as father Frank.
Making funny faces behind his assertive wife as she lectures the kids, mugging it up when stymied by the simplest matter, wagging his finger at his errant sons -- this moronic creature is the best that filmmakers can offer Christian Bale 's superb co-star in "Rescue Dawn," the stone-cold psycho in "A Perfect Getaway"?
Making funny faces behind his assertive wife as she lectures the kids, mugging it up when stymied by the simplest matter, wagging his finger at his errant sons -- this moronic creature is the best that filmmakers can offer Christian Bale 's superb co-star in "Rescue Dawn," the stone-cold psycho in "A Perfect Getaway"?
As Rodrick, Devon Bostick (2009's " Saw VI ") does what is asked of him, but tends to go overboard.
As Greg's mom Susan, Rachael Harris (2009's " The Hangover ") gets more to do this time since the focus is on the family rather than at-school antics, though Steve Zahn (2009's " A Perfect Getaway ") still hasn't gotten his moment to shine as father Frank.
Rachael Harris ("The Hangover") and Steve Zahn are intentionally corny and irritating as Mom and Dad.
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New to the series is Peyton List (2011's " 3 Backyards "), a sweet, unaffected presence as the subject of Greg's crush, the brilliantly-named Holly Hills.
Director
David Bowers
Critics compare Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules to 2 of Bowers’s own films.
We'd hoped that with new director David Bowers helming his first live action feature (he'd previously directed the disappointing animated films Astro Boy and Flushed Away), this sequel might have come up with some fresh, dare-we-say funny, middle school humor.
Director David Bowers (Flushed Away), working from a pretty good screenplay by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah , plows ahead valiantly but for far too long before the obligatory school-talent-show finale heaves into view.
David "Flushed Away" Bowers brings a lot of slick, comic energy to his first live-action feature, making it funnier and faster than its charming predecessor.
But when it comes to structure, pacing and even comic timing, Rodrick Rules — directed by David Bowers (Astro Boy, Flushed Away) and adapted by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah — doesn’t let its audience down.
Based on Jeff Kinney's illustrated novel of the same name (but also incorporating elements from third novel Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw), the new film benefits from a more thematically cohesive script and presumably also from the new director, David Bowers (Flushed Away).
The idea seems to be that all of his years in animation have prepared director David Bowers ("Flushed Away," "Astro Boy") to be able to appease a similar audience in his live-action debut.
But the big-screen Greg has grown on me, even more so after this second film, directed by David Bowers (Astro Boy).
We'd hoped that with new director David Bowers helming his first live action feature (he'd previously directed the disappointing animated films Astro Boy and Flushed Away), this sequel might have come up with some fresh, dare-we-say funny, middle school humor.
There are diverting moments, to be sure, but director David Bowers (2009's " Astro Boy ") and returning screenwriters Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah simultaneously try too hard and not hard enough, going for slapstick scenes of humiliation more mean than funny and forgetting to add up to any sort of gratifying catharsis.
But when it comes to structure, pacing and even comic timing, Rodrick Rules — directed by David Bowers (Astro Boy, Flushed Away) and adapted by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah — doesn’t let its audience down.
The idea seems to be that all of his years in animation have prepared director David Bowers ("Flushed Away," "Astro Boy") to be able to appease a similar audience in his live-action debut.
Director David Bowers (Astro Boy, Flushed Away) injects his first live-action feature with snappy pacing and a few amusing fantasy bits that offset the plot's more obnoxious devices.